Two 2021 Certificates, PSAG And PF, For Scott 236 And Two Very Different Opinions

The current Matthew Bennett sale had the following stamp as lot 105:



Realizing that opinions are opinions, some things such as hinged or not should be pretty concrete in the year 2021. The grades are also a real puzzler.

I saw that, too, when it hit SAN. Unless PF issues a corrected cert, one MUST assume it is lightly hinged if it cannot be viewed in person. Even then, many collectors could very well be mistaken in their own evaluation due to lack of expertise. And since most interested people (going forward in the future) won't be able to view it in person, it is for all intents and purposes a hinged stamp. As for the grade, again, one must go with the lower grade when valuating the stamp. I am a bit surprised that the difference in grading is 2 increments. Personally, it looks like an 85 to me.

On the plus side, I cannot imagine it getting returned after being sent off to PSE by the new owner. Well, unless they refuse to grade it because of a thin or crease.

I would LOVE to see both certs and confirm that they are each for THIS stamp. I am sure they looked at everything under a microscope at Bennett's due to this mess. As will every interested buyer in the future.

That stamp is a great buying opportunity for a person that isn't concerned about selling the stamp in the future. Personally, I often scour auctions for these "LH on cert but we can't see it" lots. When a person starts focusing on NH material, be prepared to compete with very serious, money-is-no-object collectors.

The right hand perfs don't look too good to me, both in measurement and hole size.

Difference in grading could be due to something minor (extremely minor flaw), but not mentioned on the certificate. However, the left side appears noticeably smaller than the right side. Hinging vs non-hinging is difficult to say without seeing, but it may not necessarily be a hinge mark. As to reperfing Randy is normally pretty aggressive in calling stamps reperfed.

"The right hand perfs don't look too good to me, both in measurement and hole size"

Do the same thing with the bottom perfs and you get the same result, essentially. No pull direction visible.
Reperfed at right, reperfed at bottom is my best guess..

I find it odd that this stamp with it's ambiguity and non-rarity status was included in the sale. Conflicting certificates and possible reperforating all to add $85 to the total? MB's commission from both ends totals $34 at best.

True, it probably would have been good to throw in a group lot.

Apparently, it sold for 85.00 plus fees. So, someone should be happy with the stamp.

Perfs on Columbians can be very funky and still be genuine. I would not trust a scan about any being reperfed unless it was a very poor job. They really have to be looked at very carefully.